A look at the status of major or notable Pa. bills

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett, right, along with Lt. Gov. Jim Cawley, left, hold a news conference in his chambers addressing the state budget spending plan for the new fiscal year that starts in less than 40 hours Sunday, June 29, 2014 in Harrisburg, Pa. (AP Photo/Bradley C. Bower)

HARRISBURG (AP) — A look at notable bills and where they stand as Pennsylvania lawmakers prepare to depart Harrisburg until September:

BUDGET: The Republican-controlled Legislature approved a $29.1 billion budget bill. It arrived on Gov. Tom Corbett’s desk on July 1, the first day of the 2014-15 fiscal year. He has not signed it, nor has he revealed what he plans to do with it. He has until 11:59 p.m. Friday to act on it before it becomes law without his signature. Under the Republicans’ budget plan, spending would increase $723 million, or 2.5 percent, over the current year’s approved budget. However, an additional $220 million would be added to the books of the just-ended fiscal year, rather than the newly begun fiscal year, making the entire package a $943 million increase, or about 3.3 percent.

PUBLIC PENSIONS: A Corbett-backed proposal in the House stalled, while the Senate unanimously passed a more modest bill. Under the House proposal, the current traditional pension system would be replaced with a hybrid system for newly hired state and school employees. It would combine a scaled-down pension with a 401(k)-style plan in which employees make their own investment decisions. It would also remove some future retiree health benefits. Under the Senate bill, state lawmakers, judges and elected executive branch officials would be shifted upon election, or re-election, into a 401(k)-style system.

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MEDICAL MARIJUANA: A bill that won approval from the Senate Law and Justice Committee remains in the Senate Appropriations Committee. Under the bill, three strains of marijuana could be grown, processed into oils and dispensed in the form of oil extracts, edible products, ointments, tinctures or vaporization, with oversight by a state Board of Medical Cannabis Licensing.

ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES: Legislation to liberalize Pennsylvania’s beer sales laws and loosen state control over wine and spirits remains stalled in the Senate Appropriations Committee after winning approval from the Law and Justice Committee in June 2013. In March 2013, the House passed a Corbett-backed bill that would sell off 1,200 new private wine and liquor store licenses and allow thousands of bars, restaurants and grocery stores to begin selling bottles of wine, while setting a schedule to end the state government’s involvement in wine and liquor shipments and sales.

PHILADELPHIA SCHOOLS: Both the House and Senate have approved legislation authorizing a $2 per-pack cigarette sales tax in Philadelphia as a way to raise money for the city’s cash-strapped public schools. After the Senate passed it, the House made changes to the wider bill that includes the cigarette tax, requiring the Senate’s approval one more time before it can go to Corbett’s desk.

UNION PAYCHECKS: Bills passed initial State Government Committee votes in the House and Senate, but remain in separate committees controlled by legislative leaders. Under the bills, state and local governments would be barred from the practice of deducting voluntary amounts for issues or political advocacy from the paychecks of most employees who are labor union members. The bills would continue to allow the practice of deducting a “fair share” amount to pay for the cost of representing employees. Firefighters and police are exempt.